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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 1927)
fiEip The Monitor ~ \ NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS %. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor. $2.00 a Year— Cent, a Copy OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1927 Vol. XIII—No. 12 Whole Number 634 CHURCHES EXERCISE INFLUENCE OVER CONDUCT OF THE RACE Chicago, 111.—The Living Church News Bureau—There are more than 200,000 Negroes in Chicago and an investigation of The Daily News has been contributing a most interesting series of articles dealing with the Ne groes as an important economic, poli tical, and social factor in the city’s life. In speaking of his religious life the writer, Carroll Binder, says that the Christian Church continues to ex ercise tremendous influence over the conduct and thought of the urban Ne gro, despite distractions and compet ing agencies, which are absent in the simpler Negro communities of the South. A considerable political in fluence is still enjoyed by many Ne gro clergymen, but politicians say that this influence is on the decline. “It is apparent," he Bays, “that the Church holds a large place in the life of the average Negro. The non church-going Negro is looked upon with disfavor by his fellows. Church going brings evident satisfaction to its participants. Thousands of Ne groes go two or three times to church each Sunday, and one or more times during the week. If one wishes to attend one of the more popular churches he must be on hand an hour ahead of time to get a seat. The at- j tendance in a dozen Negro churches] could hardly be matched by as many | white churches. Edifices which once housed fashionable Jewish and Prot estant congregations are now throng ed with fervent colored worshippers." The record and experience of our own Church in Chicago bears out this statement. St. Thomas’ church, at Wabash avenue and Thirty-eighth street on the south side, has the sec- j ond largest membership in the dio- ] cese, being exceeded only by St. i Luke's church, Evanston. The Rev. I H. J. Brown is priest in charge. Its | communicants number 1,378. Its services are well attended and it has a full Catholic ritual. St. Andrew’s j mission in Evanston, the Rev. W. J. ; Weaver, priest in charge, is another: SUPREME COURT LANDS KNOCKOUT ON “BARBER BILL” Infamous Measure Is Contrary to Constitutions of State and Nation, Say Georgia Judges Atlanta, Ga.—The famous (or in famous) Atlanta “barber bill,” pro- ( hibiting Negro barbers from cutting, the hair of white children under 14 j years of age, which was enacted by the city council last year, has finally received its death blow at the hands of the supreme court of Georgia, which recently declared tho law con trary t» the constitutions of both the state and the nation. The law never went into effect, even for a day, hav ing been held up immediately after its passage by a court injunction ap plied for by the Atlanta chamber of commerce. The supreme court now writes the concluding chapter in this interesting case. The measure, supposed to have been sponsored by white barbers and by politicians seeking to capitalize race prejudice, was rushed through the council without a public hearing. In its original form it prohibited both white and colored barbers from serv ing persons of the opposite race. A storm of opposition, lead by the Inter racial Committee, the Ministers’ Al liance, the chamber of commerce, the daily papers, and other influential agencies, immediately descended up on the council and forced the repeal of the measure. The bill was then (' greatly modified and was again rail roaded through the council. The chamber of commerce, .with the back ing of other groups opposed to the measure, then took the case t<> the courts, with the gratifying results in i dicated above The case well illus trates the apparent fact that race prejudice is most general and intense at the level of economic competition. thriving work among the 8,000 Ne groes there. The corner stone of the new $32,000 church has just been laid. On the west side of the city an effort is being made to minister to the Negroes in the mission of the Church of the Samaritan. Moreover, the colored people of the city contribute generously to the sup port of their churches, annual collec tions and subscriptions in the city dis trict exceeding $500,000, besides spe cial contributions for building funds and other expenses. Stockyard em ployees and washerwomen give on an average of five dollars a month to the work of their churah, according to the estimate of a prominent Negro religious leader. A $20,000 rally is not unusual. Olivet Baptist church claims a membership of 11,000, though the auditorium of the church will only seat a third of that number. Other parishes have memberships running into the thousands. Most Chicago Negro churches are affili ated with nationally organized Ne gro sects, but a number of independ ent churches have sprung up in re cent years, some with very large memberships. The founding of these churches was an effort of higher ec clesiastical authorities to supplant a j popular preacher, who thereupon set up his own congregation, or it was a split within a parish over some doc trinal or personal issue. The Ro man Catholic Church has a growing work among the Negroes, an instance being,,St. Elizabeth’s church, at For ty-first street and Wabash avenue, which has a flourishing men’s club and an eleven grade parochial school with 1,100 colored students. Even the Christian Scientists are active and growing among the colored peo ple. Both the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. have large and flourish ing branches on the south side re gion. The annual budget of the Y. M. C. A. branch, one of the finest and best equipped in the land, is $108,000, all of which is raised by the colored people. NON AGE NERI AN VISITS OMAHA RELATIVES Soney Bell, Ex-Civil War Soldier, Aged 92 Year*, Find* Niece* After 20 Year*’ Separation Mr. Soncy Bell, of Leavenworth, Kansas, is visiting with his nieces, Mrs. Opal Bell Morgan and Mrs. An na Bell Vanoy, from whom he has been separated for 20 years. Mr. Bell, who is a brother of the late Benton Bell of this city, is an old ex-soldier of the Civil War, who was wounded but is now very active in his 93rd year. He is very conversant and jolly, is a widower and full of life. Mr. Bell, who is retired on a pension, did not neglect to prepare for these 93 years, for he owns much property in his home town and has saved some money besides. Leavenworth may be the loser and Omaha the gainer of a very worthy and desired citizen, as Mr. Bell is contemplating spending his days with his nieces here. He is now with Mrs. Opal Bell Mor gan, 1208 North Twenty-fifth street. EMPLOYEE GIVEN STOCK AS REWARD Sacramento, Calif.—PCNB)—As a fitting reward for his 40 years of ] faithful service, the Kirk Geary com pany, wholesale drug distributors of this city recently made John Ray, colored, stockholder of their concern through donation of nine shares of common stock. Mr. Ray, 919 Front street, togeth er with his son, Clyde, has complete charge of the country packing de partment, seeing after and supervis ing the out-of-town orders for this large drug concern whose territory covers the entire northern half of California; the southern half of Ore gon and as far east as Tonopah, Ne vada. EDITORIAL ; No doubt we will be considered presumptuous, perhaps im pertinent, for volunteering advice to the Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Nevertheless, here goes. Our suggestion is that the Chamber of Commerce in its campaign for enlarged mem bership, which it is about to launch, seek to include in its mem bership representatives of all classes of our cosmopolitan citi zenship. This, of course, means the inclusion of citizens of the Negro race. Hitherto in all its plans and programs this large group has never been considered. If, howover, the Cham ber of Commerce is sincere in its desire and avowed purpose of working for a larger and better Omaha, not only commercially and industrially, but also socially, civicly and culturally, or, in other words, for a broad program of constructive community service, then it must be quite apparent that its membership should be as thoroughly representative as possible. There are professional and business men among the Negro citizens of Omaha who would not only themselves be benefitted by such contact as membership in such an organization affords but who would also benefit the organization by their membership. They would have something to give as well as to get. But the paramount plank in the Chamber of Commerce platform should be the development of a community spirit. This is what Omaha I needs. The Chamber of Commerce can contribute much to | wards the creation of this spirit, if it will, but its outlook must be much broader than that of a mutual admiration society and 'it must not overlook or ignore any element of Omaha’s popula tion. We fully agree with the following statement contained in a i letter sent out under the signature of Mr. C. D. Sturtevant, chairman of the executive committee of the Chamber: ! “Omaha needs a stronger Chamber of Commerce if it is to I carry on a broader program of community service and accom I plish those things necessary to keep this city abreast of its | neighbors in every phase of community welfare.” MERITS THE WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT OF ALL I _ The North Side Branch of the Young Women’s Christian Association is an established institution in this community. It is deserving of the fullest support and hearty and enthusiastic co-operation of all our people who realize and appreciate the importance of uplifting agencies for our girls and young wo manhood. That the Y. W. C. A. is such an agency cannot be denied. Its purpose is thus clearly defined: “To associate young women.in personal loyalty to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. “To promote growth in Christian character and service through physical, social, mental and spiritual training. “To become a social force for the extension of the Kingdom of God.” . , J Admittedly then, its purpose and ideals are high, and such association of young women cannot but prove most beneficial and helpful to any group or any community. The North Side Branch has done good work and is capable of doing a greater and better work if it be more largely and generously Supported. It is not beginning to get the support it deserves. There should be a much larger membership and more should avail themselves of the educational and recrea tional privileges offered. The spirit of unfeigned and sincere goodfellowship which exists between the Central Branch and the North Side Branch is, in our opinion, a social asset to our community of inestimable value. It is more far-reaching in its influence for mutual re spect and understanding than is appreciated. We heard one of the most prominent white woman say in a public meeting: “I have had the honor and privilege of meeting and working with some of the finest and best women it has ever been my pleasure to meet and they are colored women. They are wo men of excellent character, culture and high ideals and we owe to these people to deal fairly and justly with them. 1 his noble woman had caught a vision. It came through the contact afforded by these two branches of the Y. W. C. A. The colored women, too—because it must be admitted that there is prejudice on both sides—have also I caught a vision of nobleness of character and real Christian worth upon the part of their white sisters by this contact. Participation in a common program has made for understand ing and friendship, which will mean much in the future by the removal of blighting prejudice. x . It is to be hoped that our people will rally to the support ol the North Side Branch as it is renewing its activities and make it the power for social uplift that it should be in the community. It is a welfare agency for the whole community and as such merits the whole-hearted support of all. ROSCOE CONKLING BRUCE LANDS WELL-PAYING JOB New York City—Roscoe Conkling Bruce, former superintendent of our schools at the nation’s capitol and only son of Hon. Blanche K. Bruce (deceased), U. S. senator from Mis sissippi and registrar of the U. S. treasury, many years ago, is in the employ of the Rockefeller Founda tion. He is in charge of its large new tenement of 641 apartments which will house over 2,000 persons of color and which occupies an entire city block between E. 156 and 167th streets, facing 7th avenue, this city. Mr. Bruce’s salary is $12,000. His wife, who is associated with him in the work, as legal advisor, draws a salary of $3,600. Already there are 5,000 applications for the apart ments. Mr. Bruce obtained the posi tion ir. open competition, part of which was the preparation of a thesis covering every possible situation which might arise in the administra tion of such work. NEWSPAPER IN INDIA COMMENTS ON N. A. A. C. P. ANNUAL REPORT New York, N. Y.—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 69 Fifth avenue, has received a clipping from “United In dia and Indian States” published in Delhi, India, containing the follow ing editorial comment: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, hav ing its head office at 69 Fifth avenue, New York, is doing splendid work in behalf of the Negro. Its seventeenth annual report shows how the year 1926 has been for the association a year of legal victories. The associ ation makes full use of the courts to affirm and defend the Negro’s funda mental rights in America. It also acts in cases where Negroes are threatened with mob violence. The report records show how the associ ation frustrated the attemps made to drive colored people from their homes. N. A. A. C. P. BRANCHES FIGHT EXTRADITION New York City, Sept. 16—The San Francisco and Oakland, California, branches of the National Assocition for the Advancement of Colored Peo ople, are fighting an attempt to ex tradite a Negro from the state of California to Oklahoma, on the ground that he will be denied a fair trial and possibly lynched in the lat ter state. The colored man, whose extradition from California is being opposed, is Edward Glass, who escaped from an Oklahoma posse after shooting a po lice officer while defending his home at Sapulpa. The fight is being led by Edward D. Mabson, a young attorney and a member of the executive committee of the San Francisco branch of the N. A. A. C. P. At Mr. Mabson’s re quest, the national office of the N. A. A. C. P. telegraphed to Governor C. C. Young of California, asking for a 30-day delay in proceedings in or der to permit the northern California branch of the N. A. A. C. P. to pre sent its facts and arguments. The national office also sent the Califor nia governor a list of the 89 lynch ings in the state of Oklahoma from 1889 to date. It also sent detailed reports on six recent cases in which northern governors had declined to permit extradition into states where there was reason to fear mob vio lence. Mr. Mabson reports that a delega tion of colored citizens was on hand at the hearing presided over by the governor’s secretary and that coloi d taxpayers have opposed the support of the extradition proceedings by the I district attorney’s office of Alameda ! county. WOUNDED SEVEN TIMES Portland, Ore. — Joseph White, born in Philadelphia 55 years ago, claims participation in (more cam paigns than any living American sol dier. Joe’s father and brother were in the Civil War and he enlisted at Governor’s Island at the age of 11. He served 16 years in the Ninth and Tenth Calvary and the same number of years in the 24th and 25th Infan try. Sergeant White’s ribbons tell of his campaigns. One represents the war in Cuba where he went to San Juan hill with Roosevelt; one, serv ice in Indian wars; another, is a medal of honor; still another repre sents the distinguished service medal —for service in foreign wars; in the Philippines and abroad in the World War. During his 32 years of service before retirement, he was wounded seven times. STUDENT GETS $100 WALKER SCHOLARSHIP The Madam C. J. Walker company has sent through the National Asso ciation for the Advancement of Col ored People a check for $100 made payable to C. Lemley Taylor who is to study at Columbia university in New York. This scholarship was awarded to the Little Rock, Arkansas, branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who in turn selected Mr. Taylor, also of Little Rock for the recipient. This is the last award of the kind which the company will make until after their huge building program in Indianapolis has been achieved. It is hoped that these scholarship awards will be resumed when the company shall have dedicated its new building, and been relieved of the added bur den of the expansion of its business. NO RACE COPS FOR MEMPHIS, SAYS MAYOR Memphis, Tenn. — “Memphis will ! have no Negro policemen,” is the statement of Mayor Rowlette Payne. “There is no use in mincing words.” The mayor stated that there will be no Negro policemen, no Negro fire men, nor removal of restrictions ad mitting Negroes to white parks of Memphis as long as he has a voice in the city government. NEW JERSEY HAS WELL-GOVERNED NEGRO DOROUGH Lawnside, “New Jersey’s Ebony Gar den of Eden,” Has Three Thou sand Inhabitants and No Crime Wave Lawnside, N. J.— (ANP)—Lawn side, New Jersey, has been incorpor ated as a borough for a year. It is a town in New Jersey governed by Negroes. In a lengthy article appearing re cently in the Herald-Tribune of New York, it is referred to as “New Jer sey’s Ebony Garden of Eden.” Prac tically little or no crime prevails at Lawnside, but on the other hand there is much economy on the part of its inhabitants, who number 8,000 and only 40 whites. A study of the report made public shows that while municipal revenues failed to equal administrative expen ditures of $5,625 for the year, ex penses were held down through the public spirit of the mayor, who serves without pay, and the collector, the auditor, and the solicitor and the clerk, who each receive only $250 a year. No DUorder The mayor, whose name is given as James Hemming, is said to make his living as a steam roller pilot. The fire department is composed of vol unteers, serving, of course, without pay, and we are not told what sort of fire-fighting apparatus is used in Lawnside. This is what is said of the police force: “The policemen support them selves by doing odd jobbs. When trouble breaks out they rush home, don their ornate uniforms and hurry to the scene of disorder. The police evidently have a fat job, with little to do. The president of the town council says there are “four boot leggers in Lawnside,” but not one ar rest was made for drunkenness by the volunteer policemen. During the year the report shows that there were no arrests made for murder, robbery or other felony. Lawnside boasts of a very good hotel; there is an eight-room school house for the 248 pupils; there is a public park, a swimming pool and a bathing pond, and best of all, ninety per cent of the colored people in Lawnside own their own homes.” GEORGIA PURITY LAW WAITS BECAUSE LEGISLATURE HAS NOT $300,000 TO ENFORCE IT Atlanta, Ga.—The racial integrity bill, passed by the last legislature and signed by Governor Hardman, can not be put into effect because its op eration would cost $300,000 and no appropriation was made for the pur pose, state health officials said re cently. The measure provides for the im mediate registration of every man, woman and child in the state; and a card index of their racial descent for reference when application is made for marriage license. It prohibits the issuance of marriage licenses until the records at the board of health office have been checked. The bill is aimed at preventing in ter-marriage between colored and white persons. BAPTIST DELEGATES VISIT COLORADO’S NEGRO TOWN Fort Collins, Colo. — (PCNB)— Upon the invitation of O. F. Jackson, ^olored private secretary to Governor Adams, more than 500 western and southwestern delegates to the Na tional Negro Baptist Convention vis jited the colored town of Dearfield, !on Tuesday, September 13. RETIRES AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE Louisville, Ky.— (ANP)—Prof. W. H. Perry, who for 50 years has been a principal in Louisville public schools, has been retired on pension. His son, Prof. W. H. Perry, jr., was appointed as principal in his place over the largest public school in the city.
